Erich Regener
Encyclopedia
Erich Rudolf Alexander Regener (12 November 1881 – 27 February 1955) was a German
physicist
known primarily for the design and construction of instruments to measure cosmic ray
intensity at various altitudes.
Regener was born in Schleusenau (Wilczak)
near Bromberg (Bydgoszcz), West Prussia
. He studied physics from 1900 to 1905 at the University of Berlin
under Emil Warburg
and from 1909 worked with Heinrich Rubens
. In 1911 he became professor of experimental physics and meteorology at the Agricultural University of Berlin. In 1920 he became the professor in experimental physics at the University of Stuttgart
working alongside the theoretical physicist Paul Peter Ewald
. During this time, he developed instruments to measure cosmic rays at various altitudes. Bruno Rossi
wrote of this period that "In the late 1920s and early 1930s the technique of self-recording electroscopes carried by balloons into the highest layers of the atmosphere or sunk to great depths under water was brought to an unprecedented degree of perfection by the German physicist Erich Regener and his group. To these scientists we owe some of the most accurate measurements ever made of cosmic-ray ionization as a function of altitude and depth." Ernest Rutherford
stated in 1931 that "thanks to the fine experiments of Professor Millikan and the even more far-reaching experiments of Professor Regener, we have now got for the first time, a curve of absorption of these radiations in water which we may safely rely upon.".
In 1937 Regener was forced into "provisional retirement" by the National Socialists. He then founded the private "Research Laboratory for the Physics of the Stratosphere" in Friedrichshafen
on Lake Constance
, which later became a part of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society. In 1939 he was invited to work at the German Army-Air Force rocket research station in Peenemünde
where he developed a spectograph protected by a steel casing. This instrument, later called the Regener-Tonne
was the first scientific payload for a rocket
designed to reach high altitude. After a successful test flight the project was cancelled in September 1944 and the rockets were used as long-range missiles against Britain
. In 1948 Regener was appointed the first vice president of the Max Planck Society
. He was also cofounder of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
with Walter Dieminger
and was instrumental in attracting physicists back to post-war Germany.
The "Regener-Tonne
" capsule potentially had a dual use as a warhead
re-entry
vehicle. It contained a parachute
device. Regener overcame the problems of getting the parachute canopy to open at extreme high altitudes by inflating the parachute with compressed air. The capsule disappeared after Peenemunde tests in 1944 but later resurfaced in the United States.
Regener predicted a cosmic background radiation.
Regener was the father of Victor H. Regener (25.8.1913-20.1.2006) http://panda.unm.edu/operations/RegenerTribute/VictorHRegener_AMemoir-corrected%20version%20-%20Swinson.html and Erika Regener. Erika Regener later married one of Erich Regener's students, Henri Daniel Rathgeber
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
known primarily for the design and construction of instruments to measure cosmic ray
Cosmic ray
Cosmic rays are energetic charged subatomic particles, originating from outer space. They may produce secondary particles that penetrate the Earth's atmosphere and surface. The term ray is historical as cosmic rays were thought to be electromagnetic radiation...
intensity at various altitudes.
Regener was born in Schleusenau (Wilczak)
Wilczak
Wilczak is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Biecz, within Gorlice County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately south-west of Biecz, north-east of Gorlice, and south-east of the regional capital Kraków....
near Bromberg (Bydgoszcz), West Prussia
West Prussia
West Prussia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1773–1824 and 1878–1919/20 which was created out of the earlier Polish province of Royal Prussia...
. He studied physics from 1900 to 1905 at the University of Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
under Emil Warburg
Emil Warburg
Emil Gabriel Warburg was a German Jewish physicist who during his career was professor of physics at the Universities of Strassburg, Freiburg and Berlin. He was president of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft 1899-1905. He was a friend of Albert EinsteinHe was a member of the Warburg family...
and from 1909 worked with Heinrich Rubens
Heinrich Rubens
Heinrich Rubens was a German physicist.He played a direct role in the genesis of the quantum theory, providing the experimental results that pushed Max Planck to provide the first quantum hypothesis.He also combined scientific ideas to create the Rubens' tube.-External links:*...
. In 1911 he became professor of experimental physics and meteorology at the Agricultural University of Berlin. In 1920 he became the professor in experimental physics at the University of Stuttgart
University of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart is a university located in Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded in 1829 and is organized in 10 faculties....
working alongside the theoretical physicist Paul Peter Ewald
Paul Peter Ewald
Paul Peter Ewald was a German-born U.S. crystallographer and physicist, a pioneer of X-ray diffraction methods.-Education:...
. During this time, he developed instruments to measure cosmic rays at various altitudes. Bruno Rossi
Bruno Rossi
Bruno Benedetto Rossi was a leading Italian-American experimental physicist. He made major contributions to cosmic ray and particle physics from 1930 through the 1950s, and pioneered X-ray astronomy and space plasma physics in the 1960s.-Biography:Rossi was born in Venice, Italy...
wrote of this period that "In the late 1920s and early 1930s the technique of self-recording electroscopes carried by balloons into the highest layers of the atmosphere or sunk to great depths under water was brought to an unprecedented degree of perfection by the German physicist Erich Regener and his group. To these scientists we owe some of the most accurate measurements ever made of cosmic-ray ionization as a function of altitude and depth." Ernest Rutherford
Ernest Rutherford
Ernest Rutherford, 1st Baron Rutherford of Nelson OM, FRS was a New Zealand-born British chemist and physicist who became known as the father of nuclear physics...
stated in 1931 that "thanks to the fine experiments of Professor Millikan and the even more far-reaching experiments of Professor Regener, we have now got for the first time, a curve of absorption of these radiations in water which we may safely rely upon.".
In 1937 Regener was forced into "provisional retirement" by the National Socialists. He then founded the private "Research Laboratory for the Physics of the Stratosphere" in Friedrichshafen
Friedrichshafen
This article is about a German town. For the Danish town, see Frederikshavn, and for the Finnish town, see Fredrikshamn .Friedrichshafen is a university city on the northern side of Lake Constance in Southern Germany, near the borders with Switzerland and Austria.It is the district capital of the...
on Lake Constance
Lake Constance
Lake Constance is a lake on the Rhine at the northern foot of the Alps, and consists of three bodies of water: the Obersee , the Untersee , and a connecting stretch of the Rhine, called the Seerhein.The lake is situated in Germany, Switzerland and Austria near the Alps...
, which later became a part of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society. In 1939 he was invited to work at the German Army-Air Force rocket research station in Peenemünde
Peenemünde
The Peenemünde Army Research Center was founded in 1937 as one of five military proving grounds under the Army Weapons Office ....
where he developed a spectograph protected by a steel casing. This instrument, later called the Regener-Tonne
Regener-Tonne
The Regener barrel was the name of a scientific payload for the World War II V-2 rocket. Mid-1942 plans for subsequent launches to study upper-atmospheric guidance and science were not carried out due to the need for test launches and the eventual advance of the Russian armies...
was the first scientific payload for a rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
designed to reach high altitude. After a successful test flight the project was cancelled in September 1944 and the rockets were used as long-range missiles against Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In 1948 Regener was appointed the first vice president of the Max Planck Society
Max Planck Society
The Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science is a formally independent non-governmental and non-profit association of German research institutes publicly funded by the federal and the 16 state governments of Germany....
. He was also cofounder of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
The Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research is a research institute in Astronomy/Astrophysics, located in Lindau , Germany; 20 km north east of Göttingen. The exploration of our solar system is the central theme for the scientific research done at this Institute...
with Walter Dieminger
Walter Dieminger
Walter Dieminger, was a German space scientist and director of Germany's Max Planck Institute for Aeronomy from 1955 to 1975. Dieminger's research was focused on the ionosphere.-Life and work:...
and was instrumental in attracting physicists back to post-war Germany.
The "Regener-Tonne
Regener-Tonne
The Regener barrel was the name of a scientific payload for the World War II V-2 rocket. Mid-1942 plans for subsequent launches to study upper-atmospheric guidance and science were not carried out due to the need for test launches and the eventual advance of the Russian armies...
" capsule potentially had a dual use as a warhead
Warhead
The term warhead refers to the explosive material and detonator that is delivered by a missile, rocket, or torpedo.- Etymology :During the early development of naval torpedoes, they could be equipped with an inert payload that was intended for use during training, test firing and exercises. This...
re-entry
Re-Entry
"Re-Entry" was the second album released by UK R&B / Hip Hop collective Big Brovaz. After the album was delayed in May 2006, the band finally release the follow-up to "Nu Flow" on 9 April 2007...
vehicle. It contained a parachute
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
device. Regener overcame the problems of getting the parachute canopy to open at extreme high altitudes by inflating the parachute with compressed air. The capsule disappeared after Peenemunde tests in 1944 but later resurfaced in the United States.
Regener predicted a cosmic background radiation.
Regener was the father of Victor H. Regener (25.8.1913-20.1.2006) http://panda.unm.edu/operations/RegenerTribute/VictorHRegener_AMemoir-corrected%20version%20-%20Swinson.html and Erika Regener. Erika Regener later married one of Erich Regener's students, Henri Daniel Rathgeber
Henri Daniel Rathgeber
Henri Daniel Rathgeber was an Australian physicist who studied cosmic rays but considered his most important contribution to be an economic theory that explain how entropy causes unemployment....
.
Publications
- Über die chemische Wirkung kurzwelliger Strahlung auf gasförmige Körper, Dissertation, Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Berlin, 12. Aug. 1905
- Über Kathoden-, Röntgen- und Radiumstrahlen, Rede, geh. in d. Kgl. Landwirtschaftlichen Hochschule zu Berlin am 26. Jan. 1915. Berlin ; Wien : Urban & Schwarzenberg, 1915
- Über die Ursache, welche bei den Versuchen von Hrn. F. Ehrenhaft die Existenz eines Subelektrons vortäuscht, Berlin 1920 (Sitzungsbericht d. Preuss. Akademie d. Wiss. Phys.-math. Kl. 1920)
- Über Ballone mit großer Steiggeschwindigkeit, Thermographen von geringer Trägheit, Quarzbarographen und über die Kondensation und Sublimation von Wasserdampfes bei tiefen Temperaturen, München; Berlin: Oldenbourg, 1941 (Schriften d. Dt. Akademie d. Luftfahrtforschung 37)
- Aufbau und Zusammensetzung der Stratosphäre, München; Berlin: Oldenbourg, 1941 (Schriften der Deutschen Akademie der Luftfahrtforschung 46)
- Optische Interferenzen an dünnen, bei 190 °C kondensierten Eisschichten, 1954